1
as in to bewilder
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
the similar-sounding words "censure" and "censor" often confuse people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complicate
to make (something) unclear to the understanding
stop confusing the issue with irrelevant facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to mistake
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
a lot of people confuse popular fame with enduring achievement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to embarrass
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
she was confused by the shocking bluntness of his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
vandals had hopelessly confused the papers in the office files
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of confuse
There was, as with many of those living in the gloaming aesthetic twilight of Romanticism, a tendency to confuse the characters with their creator, a narrator with the author.
—
Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Not all of them will necessarily fall under the legislation, and any can challenge their inclusion, but the breadth of platforms Inman Grant was considering took some Australians aback and confused others.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Bunny hopping is nothing new for first-person shooters; spamming the jump button to confuse foes is a decades-old tactic.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
In a hearing in August, Nathan’s attorney Kaitlin Gonzalez warned that releasing sensitive information could spread misinformation and confuse potential jurors.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
Not all of them will necessarily fall under the legislation, and any can challenge their inclusion, but the breadth of platforms Inman Grant was considering took some Australians aback and confused others.
—Belinda Luscombe, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Bunny hopping is nothing new for first-person shooters; spamming the jump button to confuse foes is a decades-old tactic.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
In a hearing in August, Nathan’s attorney Kaitlin Gonzalez warned that releasing sensitive information could spread misinformation and confuse potential jurors.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for confuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for confuse
Verb
-
The sense of arbitrariness that had previously bewildered and frustrated me was drowned out by excitement and sheer aesthetic pleasure.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Cody Meissner, a pediatric professor at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine who has served on ACIP in the past—arguably the most qualified of Kennedy's new lineup—was bewildered at why the committee was rehashing the issue addressed years ago.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Amid the aftermath, as aid groups and Taliban bureaucrats were assisting those injured and left homeless by the earthquake, other Taliban officials twice suspended most internet and cellular reception throughout Afghanistan, complicating aid efforts.—
NPR,
NPR,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Michaels took to her Instagram days after the release of Fit for TV to post a series of screenshots of text chains, email threads, and other pieces of documentation refuting or otherwise complicating each claim leveled at her.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The brand’s candles often highlight single-note compositions like lavender, sandalwood, or absinthe, but don’t mistake their simplicity for minimalism.—
Michael Stefanov,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
-
During last year’s total solar eclipse, some birds mistook the sudden darkness for dawn — and burst into song.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The games themselves are embarrassing enough to watch.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
-
One agent was disciplined for insubordination after refusing to go along with the plan to embarrass Comey in this way.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The results reinforce what many pediatric specialists have long suspected—that too much screen exposure in early childhood may disrupt normal brain development.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Unlike antifa, the Proud Boys actually did something that disrupted the United States federal government and threatened to derail the peaceful transfer of power.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The 18 runs plundered off one over was the most Jasprit Bumrah had ever conceded in Tests, leaving the bowler perplexed as he was replaced.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Taylor is accustomed to playing forceful characters who have perplexing emotions about motherhood, and in A Thousand and One, Taylor earned her stripes as a performer and acclaim.—
Essence,
Essence,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In a moment where artists like Lil Yachty and Central Cee blur the line between streetwear and high fashion, Vans steps confidently into that same conversation, proving skate culture has always influenced the runway.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The technology’s potential is already altering military planning, blurring lines between intelligence, cyber operations, and traditional anti-submarine warfare.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ohio State flustered the Illinois offense and quarterback Luke Altmyer, holding them to just 47 yards rushing and limiting an offense that thrives on explosive passing plays.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The Bulldogs were able to fluster Sam Leavitt and Joey Aguilar, two high-level quarterbacks who combined to go 34-of-63 with just two touchdowns and four interceptions against them.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Confuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/confuse. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share